Thiruvananthapuram: In a tragic incident, a mother and her teenage daughter died after setting themselves on fire yesterday over loan default issue.
The family lived near Neyyatinkara, and the father was away when the incident happened. The duo were said to have taken the extreme step after bank officials continuously called them up yesterday, demanding that they repay the amount or face attachment of their property.
While the girl Vaishanavi (19) died on the spot, her 40-year-old mother, who suffered 90 per cent burns and was taken to the Thiruvananthapuram medical college hospital, died yesterday night.
The girl’s father Chandran alleged that the bank authorities had been pressuring them to repay their dues. He had taken a Rs 5 lakh housing loan from Canara Bank, Neyyatinkara, in 2005 and had already re-paid around Rs 8 lakh. But there was some default, and about Rs 6 lakh was still pending.
Meanwhile, Canara Bank issued a statement saying they had not threatened or put any pressure on the family. An advocate commission, appointed by a local court, had visited Chandran’s home on 10 May to attach their house and property and were informed by the family that the loan dues of Rs 6.80 lakh would be repaid on 14 May.
Chandran said the family had sought some time from the bank to enable them dispose their property to clear the dues, but the bank had threatened to attach their property.